Philippine troops clash with pro-ISIS group

Posted to the Mindanao Examiner (Jul 27, 2023): Philippine troops clash with pro-ISIS group

COTABATO CITY – Security forces clashed with pro-ISIS militants while trying to capture members of the Dawlah Islamiya or Islamic State in the restive Muslim province of Maguindanao del Sur, army officials said Thursday.







Photos released by the 6th Infantry Division show the weapons recovered by security forces from a Dawlah Islamiya hideout in Maguindanao del Sur province in southern Philippines.

Lt. Col. Dennis Almorato, a spokesman for the 6th Infantry Division, said policemen, backed by soldiers, were about to serve arrest warrants on a suspected terrorist hideout against at least 10 militants wanted on various criminal charges when the gunmen attacked them, sparking a firefight in the village called Tabungao in Radjah Buayan town early Wednesday.

He said the gunmen managed to escape the 20-minute fighting. There was no report of casualties on both sides. Soldiers recovered one M60 machine gun, one M16A2 automatic rifle, one M1 rifle, a grenade launcher, a Barrette sniper rifle and assorted ammunition and radio communication sets at the hideout.

They also “rescued” seven children and three women left behind by the gunmen, according to Almorato, quoting Lt. Col. Udgie Villan, commander of the 33rd Infantry Battalion, who was involved in the operation.

Almorato also said that Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera, the division commander, ordered security forces to hunt down the gunmen. “Kung hindi natin sila nakuha ngayon, alam ko na sa mga susunod na araw ay mahuhuli din natin sila. Gayunpaman, malaking bagay itong pagkakasabat natin sa mga gamit sa karahasan,” Rillera was quoted as saying.

Rillera also assured the public that the military is not stopping its operation against the terrorists. “Sa mga mamamayan ng Central at South Central Mindanao, asahan ninyo na ang inyong Joint Task Force Central ay hindi titigil sa pagtugon hinggil sa usaping panseguridad. Kami ay patuloy na magsisilbing tagapagtaguyod ng kapayapaan, seguridad, at pag-unlad ng ating komunidad,” he said.

Philippine authorities have blamed the Dawlah Islamiya for the spate of deadly attacks in the South. The group is fighting for the establishment of a caliphate in the troubled region. (Mindanao Examiner)

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